Diagnosed with a rare form of melanoma, Ranee tried a few forms of treatment, including major invasive surgery, but “that cancer was a monster,” her husband, Mike, recalls.
Ranee and Mike loved to travel; he wanted her to have as much time as possible experiencing the world after receiving a scary prognosis—about 17 percent of patients with her disease live for five years. So, they closed their family business and she planned a mother-daughter trip to the tulip festival in Holland, Mich., to spend some quality time with her mom.
When the hospice care teams shared with the family that Ranee may not live long enough to take the trip, they proposed a solution: ThedaCare would bring the tulips to her.
With the help of generous donations, ThedaCare Hospice Foundation did just that. The Dream Team – a small group of hospice volunteers – brought dozens of blooming tulips to her bedside at home, lining the mantle of the family’s fireplace.
The Hopes & Dreams program brings to life wishes large and small to help create memories for families on their hospice journey. “The smile she had on her face,” Mike said, “I’ll never forget it, as long as I live. I’ll always imagine her with all those flowers around her”.
Learn more about ThedaCare Hospice Foundation. Click here
